In that poetry calls to the reader to “do” rather than be, poetry is meant to be performative. How does one feel moved when reading the poem aloud? How does one feel to move their bodies in conjunction with the verse? For me, what stands out here is “feel.” Poetry is not to be read like a store keeper’s ledger; poetry stirs the intellect, emotion, and imagination. While reading the poems in Hemans’ collection I felt moved as such. Actually, within the time-frame of, giving myself over to the verse, I felt moved in a diverse range of emotions. “The Homes of England” drew out the proudness of patriotism; “The Lady of the Castle” stirs imaginings that break one’s heart; and with “The Sunbeam” how could anyone feel but lifted from reading, “Sunbeam! What gift hath the world like thee?”? The latter poem beings such feel-good feelings; am I living in a Hallmark commercial?
The poem that I would like to discuss is “The Lady of the Castle.” This poem embodies the archetype of the fallen woman. How can it not when Hemans set up the beauty of a noble woman then writes “Of woman’s shame . . . She fell!” (16)? And what is the reason for this condemnation? The traditional, typical reason—“That mother left that child!” (17). At this point in the poem I wonder where the tale will go. It reads as a narrative with its very long stanzas with dramatic lines. I am caught up in the sweetness of the girl and feeling her loss of a mother.
And then, she returns. Hope rises. Like the woman who sinned and approached Jesus, kneeled at his feet and wept, so does Isaure’s mother. She falls at her daughter’s feet and begs for mercy. At this moment in reading another popular figure that comes to mind—the Prodigal Son from scripture. Isaure had wept for her mother as the Father had wept over his prodigal son. And like the Father, Isaure reached out in reconciliation. But for Ermengarde, “twas too late” (94). The tragedy is that the prodigal woman in this poem receives no redemption. I want a different ending. I want the fallen woman to prevail.
The End Notes for this poem explains that “The Lady in the Castle” is the only poem to have been in what was to be a collection titles, Portrait Gallery. Why did Hemans choose first to write about a “fallen woman”? How can we read this poem without thinking of this woman in the fallen state from which she does not leave?
This poem elicits empathy for the deserted daughter, even empathy when her mother mourns her “sin.” But her consequential death leaves me distraught, dissatisfied, and angry. Angry that the woman left, angry that she died and was not restored to her daughter, angry that Hemans wrote this ending! I am wondering if she meant to enforce the archetype or am I missing a totally different reading?
Performance. The poem comes to life and moves the reader through many emotions, what more could a poet want?
ENG 764
Dr. Williamson
Daily Writings-Wk 2, Wed.
Performance in Hemans’ Poetry
In that poetry calls to the reader to “do” rather than be, poetry is meant to be performative. How does one feel moved when reading the poem aloud? How does one feel to move their bodies in conjunction with the verse? For me, what stands out here is “feel.” Poetry is not to be read like a store keeper’s ledger; poetry stirs the intellect, emotion, and imagination. While reading the poems in Hemans’ collection I felt moved as such. Actually, within the time-frame of, giving myself over to the verse, I felt moved in a diverse range of emotions. “The Homes of England” drew out the proudness of patriotism; “The Lady of the Castle” stirs imaginings that break one’s heart; and with “The Sunbeam” how could anyone feel but lifted from reading, “Sunbeam! What gift hath the world like thee?”? The latter poem beings such feel-good feelings; am I living in a Hallmark commercial?
The poem that I would like to discuss is “The Lady of the Castle.” This poem embodies the archetype of the fallen woman. How can it not when Hemans set up the beauty of a noble woman then writes “Of woman’s shame . . . She fell!” (16)? And what is the reason for this condemnation? The traditional, typical reason—“That mother left that child!” (17). At this point in the poem I wonder where the tale will go. It reads as a narrative with its very long stanzas with dramatic lines. I am caught up in the sweetness of the girl and feeling her loss of a mother.
And then, she returns. Hope rises. Like the woman who sinned and approached Jesus, kneeled at his feet and wept, so does Isaure’s mother. She falls at her daughter’s feet and begs for mercy. At this moment in reading another popular figure that comes to mind—the Prodigal Son from scripture. Isaure had wept for her mother as the Father had wept over his prodigal son. And like the Father, Isaure reached out in reconciliation. But for Ermengarde, “twas too late” (94). The tragedy is that the prodigal woman in this poem receives no redemption. I want a different ending. I want the fallen woman to prevail.
The End Notes for this poem explains that “The Lady in the Castle” is the only poem to have been in what was to be a collection titles, Portrait Gallery. Why did Hemans choose first to write about a “fallen woman”? How can we read this poem without thinking of this woman in the fallen state from which she does not leave?
This poem elicits empathy for the deserted daughter, even empathy when her mother mourns her “sin.” But her consequential death leaves me distraught, dissatisfied, and angry. Angry that the woman left, angry that she died and was not restored to her daughter, angry that Hemans wrote this ending! I am wondering if she meant to enforce the archetype or am I missing a totally different reading?
Performance. The poem comes to life and moves the reader through many emotions, what more could a poet want?